One of Africa's foremost economists, K.Y. Amoako has been at the centre of African economic policy-making for the best part of 50 years. He now heads Africa's leading economic think tank, the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET).
In his recent book, Know the Beginning Well (Africa World Press, 2020), K.Y. has reflected on his personal experience of Africa's economic growth (and lack of it) and the effectiveness of policies designed to promote it during these critical years since independence. How did policies impact on the real economy? What caused the economic decline in the 1970s and '80s. Did the push to implement the 'Washington consensus' hinder or help African economies? What drove the dramatic recovery after 2000? And what approach is needed now to achieve the real transformation of African economies that is needed both to meet local needs and to give Africa a greater role in the world economy?
Three short commentaries on KY's book, exploring different aspects of it, by Alex de Waal, Nick Westcott and Prof Shanta Devarajan have been published here on the African Arguments website in early May. These and a top level cast of economic commentators and practitioners will discuss K/Y.'s book in one of our African Arguments, African Voices podcasts.
This event will be live-streamed via Zoom and Facebook. Personal links to Zoom will be sent to all panel speakers ahead of the event.
Chair: Dr Nick Westcott, Director, Royal African Society
Speakers:
- Dr K.Y. Amoako, Founder, and President of the African Center for Economic Transformation
- Professor Shanta Devarajan, Professor of the Practice of International Development, Georgetown University
- Dr Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank, Washington DC
- Bineta Diop, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace, Security and Development, and President of Femmes Africa Solidarité
